MMA notes: Bellator becomes a player with new female division

Bellator MMA announced Thursday that it is getting back into the women’s MMA game.

Bellator, under the director of president Scott Coker, signed a formidable pair of featherweights, in Marloes Coene and Julia Budd.

We’re incredibly excited to bring in two of the best athletes competing in our sport today,” Coker said in a release. “We are making a commitment to bring back the female division to Bellator, and feature some of the world’s best in the Bellator cage.”

Coenen is a former Strikeforce bantamweight champion. She has a 21-6 record with 15 victories by submission

"After fighting professionally for over 15 years, I am honored to be invited into the Bellator cage,” Coenen said. “FIt is great to be working together with Scott Coker again as we both have the same vision on fighting."

Budd has previously fought for Strikeforce and Invicta.

“I’m ecstatic about the opportunity that Bellator is giving the 145 female division and I’m especially excited to be one of the first females to fight for Scott Coker under the Bellator banner,” she said. “This gives me the opportunity to showcase my skills as one of the best fighters in the world on one of the biggest stages in the world.”

The featherweight division is 145 pounds. UFC has two female divisions, bantamweight (135) and the new straweight division of 115.

Saint Preux told the crew on UFC Tonight this week that he’s more than ready.

“I don’t feel added pressure.” He said. “To be honest, I feel there’s more pressure on Bader than me. I’m a newcomer; he’s been around for a minute.”

The fight is in the light heavyweight division.

“He hasn’t fought people of my level,” Bader told UFC Tonight. “He hasn’t fought anyone in the top 10. I’m going to welcome him in that level and it’s going to be a bad night for him and a long night.”

The prelims will air on Fox Sports 2 at 5 p.m. A complete fight card can be found at UFC.com.

NOTESDonald “Cowboy” Cerrone will face Bobby “King” Green) in the co-main event at UFC 178, Sept. 27. Green’s original opponent Jorge Masvidal will now face James Krause on the same card. UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will defend his title in the main event against Chris Cariaso. Johnson-Cariaso was bumped from UFC 177 co-main event to UFC 178 main event after Jon Jones was forced out of his title match against Daniel Cormier.

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